Klima Edit - February
Hassler Roma and the Spanish Steps
What’s new?
Hassler Roma reopens next month after closing for refurbishment for the first time in its over 130-year history. Led by sixth-generation hoteliers and siblings Roberto and Veruschka Wirth, this transformation reflects a thoughtful evolution: bringing the Hassler into the 21st century while safeguarding the heritage, spirit and highly personalized service that have long defined it. Perched atop the Spanish Steps since its opening in 1893, the Hassler Roma has been an icon of the Eternal City, hosting everyone from the cast of Roman Holiday in 1953 to Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly on their honeymoon to modern stars like Leonard DiCaprio and George Clooney. There will be newly designed public spaces and garden, a new rooftop bar concept, a transformed Michelin-starred restaurant Imago, and a brand new spa opening in the fall.
Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. The world’s largest community of racquet sports players and clubs, Playtomic, saw a 150% increase from 2024 to 2025 in players. COO and Co-Founder of Playtomic, Pablo Carro, is opening Rocalla, a luxury padel club on Formentera. This is the laid back antidote to the crazy parties of neighboring Ibiza.
Happenings & Trends
Keeping busy
Starting on April 1, Tenuta di Murlo - the sprawling Umbrian estate dotted with luxury villas - will launch their weekly activity schedule. Along with a daily Apertif at 5:30pm serving wine and estate-grown products, there will be Monday tours of the farm, Tuesday beekeeping, Wednesday truffle hunting, Thursday cooking class, and Friday pottery class. (Guests will need to sign up for these programs and prices range from 24 to 130 euros per person, depending on the activity.)
Ticking the boxes for both beach lovers and active vacation seekers, Samaná’s Seven Hidden Beaches hike takes guests on a mildly strenuous beach hop - along sandy, empty beaches dotted with swaying palm trees, grassy fields, lush jungle, and even through a dark, cenote-like cave. Guests at Ocama can meet their private guide on Playa del Amor beach and end with a freshly made piña colada at La Playita.
Cocktails with a twist
If you’re at-home cocktail game is feeling tired, here are few ideas to liven up your home bar:
The Roku Negroni: swap in Suntory Roku Gin for your usual pour of Hendricks or Tanqueray, a la Juban (the neighborhood Izakaya in Chelsea)
Ocama’s Cacao Old Fashioned puts a slightly Caribbean spin on the classic - stir aged rum with cacao bitters over ice until well chilled. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and finish with an expressed orange peel.
2026 Travel trends from an expert advisor: Lucie Kittel of Domino Travel, an affiliate of SmartFlyer, shares the trends she’s seeing for this year
Train journeys are popping: Clients are choosing experiences like the Rocky Mountaineer and rail travel throughout Japan
Sports focused travel: Clients are traveling more for sport events like the US Open and turning their event into a vacation
Work-from-anywhere travel: Desks and dedicated workspaces are now one of the most requested amenities. Clients are basing themselves in places like Zermatt, skiing in the morning and taking calls in the afternoon
Routing-driven itineraries: Trips are being designed around nonstop flight paths, such as pairing a safari with a stop in Switzerland before returning to the US
Grooms planning honeymoons: The majority of my honeymoon inquiries now come directly from grooms, who want to support their fiancées who are doing majority of the wedding planning